How To Do Christmastime in NYC Like a Pro
/Christmastime in New York City!!
It really IS “the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” I absolutely love the holiday season and there is no where better to celebrate the holiday cheer than NYC. Read on for my favorite ways to get festive in the city this winter!
In Manhattan
the Rockefeller Center Tree
Everyone MUST go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at least once. Yes it can be cold and crowded but you must see the tree if you truly want to celebrate Christmas in New York. If you’re really feeling brave, come by for the official tree-lighting ceremony the evening of Wednesday, November 30th. Otherwise, I recommend doing a fairly quick stop over - day or night - while also viewing all the beautiful holiday windows along Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue Window Shopping
Right near Rock Center, don’t miss the many beautifully decorated windows along Fifth Avenue - particularly at Saks or Bergdorf Goodman. Both luxury department stores curate gorgeous holiday displays every year. As you walk up Fifth from Saks to Bergdorf, you’ll see plenty more festive décor (and crowds). For example, each December, the Cartier Flagship Mansion gets decked in a huge red bow. It’s iconic New York.
Urbanspace Holiday Markets
The weather is usually still crisp and warm enough in November and early December to be outside. On a nice day or early evening, it’s lots of fun to roam through one of the three Urbanspace Holiday Markets that pop up in Manhattan (and elsewhere) during the holiday season.
Located at Columbus Circle (through Christmas Eve), Bryant Park (through Monday, January 2nd) and Union Square (through Christmas Eve), these markets feature artisan merchants selling festive gifts for your holiday shopping list, as well as all kinds of delicious eats to give you the fuel that you need to shop. Urbanspace also does a FOURTH holiday market in Brooklyn at Borough Hall (through December 26th).
Bryant Park is also home each winter to the Bank of America Winter Village, which includes a FREE pop up ice skating rink, a rink-side food court and a whole lot of winter themed events and activities.
SPECTACULAR FACTORY - THE HOLIDAY MULTIVERSE
Brand New for 2022! ARTECHOUSE is a mind-blowing leader in the space of digital and experimental art. Their shows are immersive, high tech and incredibly artistic. This year, ARTECHOUSE NYC is celebrating the holiday season with the creation of a wintry multiverse filled with magic, joy and wonder — Immerse yourself in this interactive winter wonderland and feel like a kid again. Do not miss, Spectacular Factory - the Holiday Multiverse!
Macy’s Herald Square Santaland
Sure there are Santa sightings all over the city (Ugh SantaCon) but the real Santa(s) live at Macy’s Santaland! I grew up visiting Santaland each Christmas, so it will forever hold a special place in my heart. But even if it’s brand new to you, Macy’s Herald Square flagship is wonderful around the holidays.
During the holiday season, the entire 8th floor of Macy’s Herald Square (151 West 34th) is transformed into a winter wonderland called Santaland, that includes a FREE visit with Santa that is like no other. In the past, the lines to meet Santa here could get atrocious, but Macy’s now offers advanced reservations in New York. Santa is only accessible by advanced reservation for a pre-set time slot online. Spots can be reserved up to 5 days in advance of your visit.
Guests can join the line for Santa at their reserved time. And don’t worry, there are plenty of festive landscapes to enchant you while you wait. The path toward Santa is filled with beautiful holiday displays known as Santaland Village.
As mentioned, visiting Santa is totally free, however, professional pictures are available for purchase beginning at $39.99. Also, Macy’s will also do their best to have your children meet a Santa that best matches his or her cultural background - just mention this request to any elf you see.
In Brooklyn
Dyker Lights
If MASSIVE Christmas lights displays are what you’re after, head to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn for the neighborhood’s famous holiday light displays (aka Dyker Lights). For over 30 years, tons of visitors flock to this section of Brooklyn in the month of December to gawk at the crazy Christmas lights and decorative displays put on by homeowners and professionals in the area. Each year, neighbors aim to outdo themselves and their fellow neighbors. There are even bus transportation and guided tours nowadays. Many houses shut off their lights around 9pm so try to arrive on the earlier side to ensure you’ll see everything and to get a head start on the massive crowds. We did this in 2019 via a bus tour and it was orderly and super fun.
LIGHTSCAPE
Last December, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden was illuminated after dark by Lightscape, an enchanting trail animated by over a million lights and a curated soundtrack of tunes. It got rave reviews and I was sad to miss it. But we have tickets for this year!! Lightscape will happen daily through Sunday, January 8th.
In the Bronx
NYBG Holiday Train Show
These days, my beloved New York Botanical Garden is home to TWO holiday events. The older of the two, NYBG’s world famous Holiday Train Show, delights hundreds of thousands of visitors each holiday season with beautiful working toy trains and NY-centric scenery. Timed entries to the show are offered daily through Monday, January 16th. Guests of all ages will enjoy the train show. My favorite part is viewing all the models of famous New York City buildings.
nybg glow
What began as a COVID friendly outdoor alternative to the usual, indoor NYBG Train Show, NYBG GLOW is here to stay each holiday season. An outdoor color and light experience, GLOW uses thousands of LED lights to illuminate NYBG’s landmark buildings and 1.5 miles of colorful landscape. GLOW is happening select evenings from 5-10pm through Saturday, January 14th.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Holiday Lights returns to the Bronx Zoo again for Holidays 2022. Sort of like a winter version of Boo at the Zoo, there will be plenty of fun and festive activities at Holiday Lights, but this time all taking place after regular zoo hours (4:30pm onwards). Sing along with Roaming Carolers, board the Holiday Train, watch professional ice carvers delight crowds and of course, witness tons of illuminated animal shaped lanterns and lights. Holiday Lights takes place weekends in November and then daily through Sunday, January 8th, excluding Christmas and Christmas Eve.
In Queens etc.
NYC Winter Lantern Festival
This year’s Winter Lantern Festival is taking place in four different NY metro locations - SIUH Community Park in Staten Island, Queen’s County Farm in Queens, the Smithtown Historical Society and the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, NY. Each Lantern Festival runs through early January 2023. The Queens, Staten Island and Smithtown locations are walk through, while the Roslyn event is a drive through attraction. We did the Roslyn drive through last year and were rather underwhelmed.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays!
